BRITISH-GERMAN SUMMIT, 25 NOVEMBER
HONG KONG ISSUES
Points to make
What impressions did you bring away from your trip to China and Hong Kong?
- Grateful for the opportunity my officials had to brief yours on Hong Kong issues in advance of your trip. Negotiations with Chinese over Hong Kong now moving into á decisive phase. We remain committed to reaching agreement, but little time now left before Chris Patten must make practical arrangements for the elections which fall between now and 1995.
Helpful for us for the Chinese to hear at first hand that
developed countries set great store in seeing the "one
country, two systems" approach followed through in Hong Kong, and for the Chinese to register that an early and successful conclusion to the Sino/British talks would go a considerable
way to bolstering international confidence in a smooth and
cooperative transfer of power from Britain to China.
E-
What sort of gloss were the Chinese putting on Hong Kong issues?
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ptm.german.NAT
JEB